A 14-year veteran of the Colorado State Patrol who oversaw Homeland Security, State Patrol training and motor-carrier safety was named today as the new head of the agency.

Lt. Col. James Wolfinbarger will replace the current head of the patrol, Col. Mark Trostel, who will retire Feb. 28.

The announcement was made by Peter Weir, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

Wolfinbarger is currently serving as commander of the patrol’s southern region of Colorado.

A 1988 alumnus of Green Mountain High School in Lakewood, Wolfinbarger graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in speech language pathology.

He also is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command.

Wolfinbarger joined the patrol in July 1995.

During his career, he was assigned to Adams County and Grand Junction and by January 2004, was promoted to major.

In December 2007, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned as the southern Colorado regional commander of field operations.

He will become a full colonel on Feb. 27, said Weir.

Weir said the Colorado Department of Public Safety began an “extensive and exhaustive search process” for Trostel’s successor in mid-December after Trostel said he planned to retire within a few months.

“The search process included the traditional open announcement and competition, a formal assessment process, guidance from a wide range of traffic-safety partner agencies, personal interviews and input from State Patrol members on what they value in their top leader,” said Weir.

Wolfinbarger said he was honored to be selected.

“As the CSP is recognized as one of the finest law-enforcement agencies in the nation, I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to represent and lead the men and women of the patrol,” he said.

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